EAST LANSING, Mich. – Bellflower, California native Mary Lewis, a recent alumna of the Michigan State women’s tennis program, was named the Midwest regional winner of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award for the 2021-22 season, the ITA national office announced Monday.
A four-year letterwinner for the Spartans and a two-time captain for head coach Kim Bruno‘s squad, Lewis wrapped up her collegiate career in April after being one of the most decorated players in MSU women’s tennis history.
The Cissie Leary Award Honors a Division I women’s student-athlete who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team’s performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. The award dates back to 1997 and is in memory of the late and widely admired Penn women’s tennis coach Cissie Leary.
Candidates are evaluated on sportsmanship and character, in particular the ability to overcome obstacles and adversity. In addition, player’s performance on the court during the season as well as over their collegiate careers was factored in, as well as scholastic achievements and extracurricular honors.
“Mary has accomplished so much in her career here at MSU and to end it receiving the prestigious Cissie Leary Award just exemplifies what an amazing competitor and person she is,” said Bruno. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving and I am truly honored to have had the opportunity to coach her.”
Overcoming personal adversity since childhood, Lewis came to the Spartans in 2018 after spending her freshman campaign at Arizona and soon entrenched herself as MSU’s No. 1 singles player and one of the best in the Big Ten Conference.
Lewis’ play with MSU earned her All-Big Ten First Team honors in 2020 and 2021, becoming only the second Spartan ever to earn first-team distinction twice in a career, following Christine Bader in 2006 and 2008. She was also the Midwest region’s winner for the 2020 ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, a two-time Academic All-B1G selection, and a two-time Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
This past season saw Lewis and her doubles partner Maja Pietrowicz enter the fall as the No. 28 pairing in the country and qualify for the main draw in both the ITA All-American Championships and the ITA Fall Nationals,…
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